Jay Monahan was instrumental in solidifying the The Players Championship's move to May. He's now the second-most powerful man at PGA Tour headquarters.

Monahan, 43, was named the Tour's deputy commissioner on Tuesday, and will assume his new duties on April 1. Monahan became executive director of The Players Championship in 2009, the third Players in May, and kept tha job until 2011 when he was made the Tour's executive vice-president and chief marketing officer.

Monahan will report directly to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

"As such, [Monahan] will move into the office of the commissioner and report directly to me, working closely on the entire scope of business operations and strategy," Finchem said in a statement. "Jay has been a key member of the TOUR’s senior staff since June of 2008 and has done an excellent job, first as Executive Director of The Players Championship and most recently as heading up our corporate marketing and sponsor relations."

Monahan was the executive director of the Deutsche Bank Championship, a FedEx Cup playoff event, before joining the tour.

Monahan's promotion has already fueled speculation that it is a prelude to being named the next Tour commissioner. Finchem's contract runs out in 2016, when he will be 69 years old.